Nepal elections to be held by mid-April: Peace Minister

Kathmandu, Oct 24 (UNI) Nepal government today reiterated that the Constituent Assembly elections should be held by Mid April next year.

Peace and Reconstruction minister Ram Chandra Poudel said the Maoists were trying to hold the country hostage by putting up hurdles at a time when the objective of a federal democratic Republic was near, adding that their threat to break the seven-party alliance would not benefit the party.

''This is not the time to threaten and take the matters as a game.

Maoists should take matters seriously,'' Mr Poudel said.

Appealing everyone to unite against the elements which try to put up hurdles on the path of a 'bloodless revolutionary success', he said the Maoists' changing stance had forced all to analyse their intentions.

He accused Maoists of being authoritarian and arrogant. Ruling out the possibility of changing an agreement time and again. Mr Poudel ruled out the possibility of changing an agreement.

Nepali Congress vice president Gopal Man Shrestha also underscored the possibility of a tie between the ultra-leftist and ultra-rightist for deferring the CA polls. He alleged the Maoists of giving the opportunity to the royalists by placing obstructions in the run-up to the CA elections.

Mr Shrestha also said the Maoists should withdraw their proposals on October 29 at the special session of the House to make the country a republic through political consensus.

UNI